Late last week, the Bishop Tribal Council formally requested the assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in helping to remedy the recent mountain lion sightings
on the Bishop Paiute Reservation.
Because CDFW is a State agency and the Tribe is on Federal land, a formal request was required to authorize CDFW to come onto the Bishop Paiute Reservation.
On Monday August 2nd, after a call from a Bishop City resident, CDFW notified the Bishop Paiute Tribe of the possible location of a deceased mountain lion. During an extensive search, CDFW and Bishop Tribal Police located the remains of a deceased mountain lion on the eastern edge of the Bishop Reservation. CDFW officials determined the mountain lion, had in fact, been tagged by the Department years earlier and was about 16 years old. Based on the evidence, the mountain lion’s cause of death was by single gunshot. It’s believed the mountain lion was shot elsewhere and succumbed to its wound on the reservation.
Once CDFW determined there was no need to remove the carcass or take samples, they deferred to the Tribe to handle any proceedings due to its location. After a blessing, being smudged and a tobacco offering, the mountain lion was laid to rest.
It’s important to remember that mountain lions and other predators have been a part of the Owens Valley ecosystem for millennia. Occasional sightings of them are part of life in a rural setting and should not necessarily be cause for alarm. Also, important to know, relocation of wildlife doesn’t necessarily prevent wildlife from returning to the same area where it was relocated from. Recently, a bear breaking into homes in Lee Vining was relocated to the Markleeville area and two days later, it was spotted back in Lee Vining.
The Bishop Tribal Council appreciates the tribal community for their efforts informing the Tribal Council, Bishop Tribal Police, Bishop Paiute Tribe Public Works, Community Development Department staff, Tribal Administration, Brian Poncho for the blessing and would like to thank the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for their collaboration with the Council.
The Bishop Paiute Tribe is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located on its 879-acre Bishop Paiute Reservation in Inyo County, California. The Reservation was formed under Congressional Act 5299, P.L. No. 43 of April 20, 1937. The Tribe is committed to the well-being of its people. For more information, please contact the Bishop Paiute Tribe at (760) 873-3584.
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What a terrible way for that beautiful 16 year-old creature to die. Not fair.
AllieX
The moment that Mountain Lion walking the street on the Rez hit the internet,the person shooting the video,claiming to “be famous” now because of the “views’ and “likes ” it was getting,it was a death sentence for the Cat.
If it wasn’t going to be a nearby local ,probably the very next night going out with rifle in hand looking for him,hoping to shoot and kill,then taking his own photos,seeking the same kinda “fame ” the video-taker said she was getting,what better way to get that than shoot,kill and claim hearing a ruckess outside,saying the Mountain Lion “attacked” him or his pets and had to shoot.
And if it didn’t happen that way,it would’ve been a visitor to the area,hearing about a big Cat nearby Bishop,making the week-end trip to Owens Valley and going out,looking for and shooting it,making the same kind of “defense” claim..and had to shoot it.
Only difference would be them going back to SoCal,posting the photos on facebook and bumping chests with his SoCal guy-friend buddies.
Thing is,it didn’t work out that way,since the Animal briefly survived the shooting,ran off only to die later on from the wound.
Either way,the Mountain Lion was as good as dead once the video and post was made,and especially when it’s location was made public.
I wish people would think before posting certain videos and photos with a location on wild Animal sightings.
Because when they do,the blood is on their hands as much as the shooters..
Why not just lure it to NV and shoot it there where it is legal depending on the season? Lions do not belong in our communities. They should be scared of human interaction. When they no long fear us something is wrong.
Tiny Britches
Just out of curiosity,how would you plan on “luring ” a Mountain Lion to travel a long distance and into another State ?
Actually, mountain lions were here first… we’re in their community.
Jubie
My bet is “Tiny Britches” is one of those big-talking hunters that would be “hunting ” a Mountain Lion,hike for miles looking,but never seeing,tracks or sighting….but all the while he’d be looking,the whole time the Mountain Lion would’ve been watching him…laughing….if Mountain Lions can laugh…
The average lifespan of a mountain lion is 8 to 13 years . At 16 , this animal was probably unable to hunt and was most likely in very poor health . Maybe , just maybe , this wasn’t a bad way to go .
Rick O’Brien
From the looks of things on the video that was posted,the Mountain Lion seemed healthy..
Actually a big one…but agree,maybe the reason he was so close into town and around houses,maybe because of older age and problems hunting Wildlife in the fields and forests..
But the bullet didn’t kill him immediately, that s the worst part. I would prefer no bullets were shot into the mountain lion. I didn’t know about the video posted prior. That gave everyone an opportunity to be on the look out and bring pet food in etc. He might have just wandered on the very next day. The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 (Proposition 117) legally classified mountain lions as a “specially protected mammal”. It is unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof. No one should be talking about killing mountain lions. Whoever killed him should be arrested.
So the Res is federal land? But not federal land like forest land.. This article is borderline useless
I believe most people know that reservations are on federal land, owned by the federal govt. in trust for the native tribe. Certainly the point of this article is not to ‘educate’ the public regarding tribal land ownership.
And just like I thought would happen…
See Mountain Lion…
Take photos….
Put photos on internet..
Bang,bang…
Mountain Lion is dead…
Sickening….
You have a vivid imagination.
sugarmags
My “imagination ” turned out to be 100 % true with what happened…